More than a thousand people are expected to march in support of the NHS and NHS workers through the main road in north Bristol on Saturday.

The Protect Our NHS campaign is organising a march down Gloucester Road in Horfield, the main A38, in the middle of the day, calling for an end to what they said is the ‘ongoing privatisation’ of the NHS.

Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are expected to join campaigners in their hundreds and organisers said there will be a ‘festival buzz’ as the march goes through Gloucester Road in Horfield to St Andrews Park.

People are being asked to gather on Horfield Common at 1pm, where the crowds will be addressed by Darren Jones, the Labour candidate for Bristol North West in the general election, along with several NHS workers.

Then the march will set off down Gloucester Road and will be joined by Bristol West Green Party candidate Molly Scott Cato.

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Organisers said they ‘expect the march to snowball’ as it continues into Gloucester Road’s shopping area, and at St Andrew’s Park, a series of NHS workers will also address the crowds, along with film director Ken Loach.

“Many of us are well aware our NHS is in crisis,” said a spokesman for the People’s Assembly, which is co-organising the march with Protect Our NHS.

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“Hospitals, GPs, mental health, ambulance and community services are on their knees, with many closing or suffering disastrous shortfalls in funding.

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“But the solutions do not lie in the current government policies. Private companies are gaining an ever greater foothold within the NHS. Years of pay restraint has seen the value of NHS staff salaries reduce by 14 per cent since 2010.

“More and more unaffordable and damaging charges for patients at being threatened.

“The government’s Sustainability and Transformation Plans seem to be a smokescreen for a large-scale programme of hospital and community service closures, and are the latest instrument for privatisation.

“The NHS is one of our greatest achievements. We cannot allow it to be dismantled and destroyed. This is happening now.

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“Let's make a demonstration and send a message that can't be ignored on the streets, across local media and social media, urging people to vote in support of the delivery of national, well-funded public health service,” the spokesman added.

The march is expected to reach St Andrew’s Park by 2.30pm. Depending on numbers and length, it appears likely there will be traffic disruption on the A38 in Horfield and St Andrew’s for an hour or so before 2.30pm.